The Day of the Devs is a yearly celebration of the best games that indie developers have managed to create. Anyone can apply and the winners are shown off during a special showcase ahead of E3 2021. Undeniably, one of the most beautiful games shown at this year's Day of the Devs is Behind the Frame. This puzzle-painting game uses handcrafted anime sequences and painted sets in order to give off its beautiful atmospheric vibe, with art is directly inspired by Studio Ghibli's past works. Thee gameplay is reminiscent of an escape room, where players will have to use their artistic and critical thinking abilities to progress in Behind the Frame's mini games and puzzles.
Behind the Frame's gameplay combines a compelling narrative and innovative puzzle mechanics to challenge players in brand new ways. Taking advantage of a 360 degree panorama, players will be able to be truly immersed in the hand-painted scenes of Behind the Frame's world. As pretty as this new world is to look at, it is filled with secrets that players will be tasked with finding. As a young painter, the players will learn the ups and downs of the day to day and work on their own projects while they explore the in-game world. Suddenly, they discover there might be more to their studio than meets the eye.
Behind the Frame's Art Style
Studio Ghibli is known for being a studio where the viewer will find themself ensnared by the time the movie gets to the title card. From Spirited Away to Earwig and the Witch, Studio Ghibli has been producing beautiful hit after hit since it was first founded. This has led to a number of games, and other media, inspired by the art style.
From the food to the characters, it's clear that Behind the Frame is truly inspired by Studio Ghibli's iconic style. The animations are fairly simple, but carry more than enough emotion for the feelings they convey. Except for the cutscenes, Behind the Frame is played in first person, allowing players to be even more immersed in the beautiful world. Through point-and-click mechanics, players will cook, write emails, and solve puzzles that take full advantage of the beautiful animation the team of Silver Lining cooked up.
Behind the Frame's Escape Room Puzzle Mechanics
Before Day of the Devs, not much was known about the puzzle mechanics that would be found in Behind the Frame. However, the new gameplay trailer gives a few clues about what to expect in the upcoming title. For instance, in one scene the painter is examining one of her paintings that is similar to one in her neighbor's home. Except, she notices, that there is only an outline of a sun on her copy. After filling it in with yellow paint, a drawer pops down from behind the painting's frame. From here, the player is given a few scraps of paper and a clue.
While Silver Lining is likely saving the best previews for later, it seems safe to say that Behind the Frame has already made quite the impact.
Behind the Frame is in development by Silver Lining Studios for a scheduled release in 2021.